========
==== ====
== ==
= =
= =
= THE GLASS FACTORY. =
= =
= =
== ==
==== ====
========
,,,,,~^=£& SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& AND A GIFT SHOP. &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ CONSIDERED POOR. @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# SOME ARE SHATTERED. #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& == &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# == == #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ ~~~~~~~ = = ~~~~~~~ @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# == == #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## == ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ LIT FROM BEHIND. @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ == @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# == == #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## ~~~~~~~ = = ~~~~~~~ ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# == == #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ == @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ FLOOR. £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# BECOME STILL. #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# == #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& == == &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ ~~~~~~~ = = ~~~~~~~ £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& == == &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# == #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,,,~^=£ SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, £=^~,,,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. &£=^~,,,,,
,,,,~^=£&# #&£=^~,,,,
,,,~^=£&#@ SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER @#&£=^~,,,
,,~^=£&#@# THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK #@#&£=^~,,
,~^=£&#@## GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND ##@#&£=^~,
,,~^=£&#@# I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE #@#&£=^~,,
,,,~^=£&#@ THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? @#&£=^~,,,
,,,,~^=£&# #&£=^~,,,,
,,,,,~^=£& I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. &£=^~,,,,,
==
== ==
= =
== ==
==